Camping accessory



Oct. 12, 1954 A. B. BLITTERWORTH I 2,691,178

CAMPING ACCESSORY Filed Aug. 11, 1950 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR B. BUTTE RWORTH available.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE! Arthur B. Butterworth, Newport News, Va.

Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,949

This invention relates to a camping accessory and more particularly to an apparatus for providing an enclosure for a camp cot.

In the past it has been necessary, when camping outdoors, to sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag or the like when only a small tent was It is possible, of course, to sleep on beds or cots if a substantially-sized tent is available, but a tent large enough to contain one or two beds is quite bulky, as well as expensive. When traveling by automobile, it is possible to sleep in the vehicle, particularly if it is especially constructed for such use; however, this is not particularly comfortable and is limited to areas to which the automobile can be driven.

The applicant has devised an apparatus whereby the camper may sleep on his camp cot and yet enjoy all the benefits of being within a tent; that is, he will be safe from rain and storm, will be clear of the ground, and will be surrounded by an enclosure from which mosquitoes and the like may be excluded.

Furthermore, the applicant has provided for an apparatus of the kind described that is both .light and inexpensive because of the small amount of material used in its fabrication. The lightness is particularly important to campers with whom weight is always a handicap.

Another important feature of the applicants device is its ease of assembly. When, as is often the case, the camper must set up his sleeping accommodations in the dark, it is imperative that the apparatus be simple. Furthermore, when the camper is tired or when a storm is coming up, the applicants device is particularly useful, since it may be set up in a very short time.

Among the other desirable features incorporated into the applicants device are its strong construction, its adaptability to fabrication by mass production procedures, and the attractiveness of its appearance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The character of the invention, however, may

be best understood by reference to certain of its structural forms, as illustrated bythe accompanying drawings in which:

6 Claims. (Cl. -113) Figure 1 shows the camping accessory of the instant invention attached to a camp cot and viewed in the direction of the end of the cot.

Figure 2 shows the framework of the present invention as attached to a cot viewed in the direction of the side thereof and with portions of the cot and accessory broken away.

Figure 3 shows a detail of a part of the accessory of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the camping accessory of the invention shown in use with two camping cots and viewed in the direction of the ends of the cots.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the modification illustrated in Figure 4 taken on line 55 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In Figures 1 and 2 the accessory, generally designated I0, is shown attached to and in use with a camp cot II. The accessory I0 comprises end members I 2, a ridge pole I3, and acover I4. The cot II is of a commonly used type and consists of stringers I5, and transverse members I6, presumably supporting springs (not shown) on which rests a mattress II, legs I8 being attached to the stringers I5. The end members I2 are of generally semi-circular shape and are provided centrally with a window I9 which usually has an insert of mosquito netting, but, of course, any desired material may be used. This window I9 is for the purpose of admitting air and light into the enclosure. The bottom, diametric edge of the end member I2 is formed with notches 20, as best shown in Figure 3, for a purpose to be described later. The end members are made of thin, light material, such as plywood. The end members are held in a vertical position against the outside, vertical surface of the transverse members I6 of the cot II; for this purpose carriage bolts 2| are passed throughthe transverse members I6, the end members I2 are placed on the bolts so that the bolts lie in the notches 20, a clamping bar 22 is passed over the bolts and the assembly is held together by wing nuts 23. From this it can be observed that the bolts 2 I, the clamping bars 22, and the wing nuts 23 remain with the cot during periods of nonuse. Also, it should be noted that the end members I2 can be inserted between the transverse member IS and the clamping bar 22 without. taking the bar. 22 or the nut 23 from the bolt 2 I the saving in time is obvious. The ridge pole I3 extends from the highest medial point of to the structure and acts to prevent sag in the cover H. The cover I4 is of generally rectangular shape, having a length about the same as the distance from end member to end member and a width equal to the arcuate portion of the periphery of an end member. The corners of the rectangular cover as well as intermediate points on the sides are provided with loops 24 of rope, leather, .or canvas fora purpose to be explained later. In addition, the ends of the rectangular cover M are provided with a wide, auxiliary hem 25, open at the ends, through which passes a rope 26.

In setting up the applicants invention, the two end members I2 are clamped to thecot, as has been described, and the ridge-pole l3 isfastened in place. Then, the cover is laid over the end members and the ridge pole and the loops aretied down; this may be done by passing them over buttons 21 on the inside surface of'the stringers :iiof the cot, or they may be passed over stakes in the manner shown in conjunction with the .modifieationin Figure 4. Then, the ends of the rope26 are pulled toward the center of the end members 12, "thus tightening up the cover, and are then tied. Leaving-a loop 24 at the head of .the cot unfastened until-.thecamper is in the enclosure provides a means of-access that-is large enough to be practical; this is particularly true .if the cover-be made so-that the .hem '25 does not come down all the way to the .cot, or, in other words, is less than co-extensive withthe ends of the cover along which it lies.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the applicants invention which provides sleeping facilities for two persons. In general, the arrangement is much :the same as the device shown in Figure l and describedabove-and makes use of the same inventive concept. in this arrangement, the accessory of the applicant is shown attached to cots H. An .endmember L2 isattached to the transverse mem- :ber illiof eachof the .beds by means of clamping bars *22and bolts .andwing nuts 23. Each of the .end;members l.2 is of semi-circular shape andv has a'window l9 and a ridge pole, shown in dotted lines. In addition, the-arrangement is provided with auxiliary posts 30 and ridge pole 4, the posts .and pole being attached together by a rletacbablemeans, such as :mating notches. The posts 131] are clamped in a vertical position be- :tzweenthe .endsxof the clamping bars 22 in a manner best shown in Figure angle irons 32 are fastened to the outer vertical surfaces of the .clamping bars 22 and a bolt 33 having a wing nut :34 passes through apertures inthe free flanges of the angleirons 32; tighteningthe nut 34 will, of course, clamp the post3il in position. Once the framework has been set up in the manner just --described,'the enclosure is completed by the use of covers 35 and 36. These covers are exact counterparts of the cover 14 described above, in that they are of generally rectangular configuration with hems 31 and 38, respectively, attached to their end portions, ropes 39 and 40 running through the hems, and loops 24 attached :to the .corners and intelmediateportions of the sides. The cover 35 .islaid'across the end members 12, and the ridge poles and extends iromrpoint A to :point :0; one end of its rope .39 is attached to a cleat 4| on clamp bar 22.. The cover .36 extends fifrom'point D to point'Ban-d one end of its rope 40 is attached to cieatdi one clam-ping .bar *22. The other ends of the ropesare. pulled toward the middle and tied-together .in the vicinity .of the post 30. 'Of course, .oneof' the'covers overlaps the other from point B to point C; in the drawing, cover 36 is shown as overlapping cover 35. In addition, a filler member 43, having a hem along its edge as shown, is used to cover the space between the end members 12 and the covers 35 and 36; the filler member 43 is held fixed at the top between the covers and the end members I2 and ridge pole 3| by the inward pressure of the covers -;created whenthe-ropes 39 and are drawn taut and knotted; atthe bottom'the filler member 43 is held in juxtaposition to the end members [2 by ropes 44 and 45 which are attached to cleats -48v and 41 on the clamp bars 22.

Among the possible variations of the above- -recited specific embodiments is that where the embodiment .shown in Figure 4 is practiced by using a single, large cover instead of two, small covers. It is possible also to use a cover of that type where the filler member is integral with the cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is:

1. The combination of two campingcots in sideby-side relation and .an accessory therefor comprising end .membcrs of .semiecircular shape fiormed of .stifi sheetmaterial and clamped at their diametrical portions in a vertical position to .the ends .of eachof the cots, .the two cots being .heldinjuxtaposition. by clamping means, vertical posts ,held betweentheendsof the cots by actuationof said clamping means, a ridge pole joining the tops of the posts, a flexible cover of rectangular conformation stretched over the end members and the ridgepole and held there to form a sleepingclosure.

,2. The combination of two camping cots in sidebyeside relation and an accessory therefor comprising .end members or semi-circular shape formed of stiff sheet material and clamped at their diametrical portions in a vertical position to .the ends of each of the pots, each endmember being provided .with'a centrally-located window, a ridge pole joining the .top portions of 'theend members .oneach cot, the two cots being held in juxtaposition by clamping means, vertical posts heldbetween the endsof the .cots by actuation of saidclampingmeans, aridge pole joining the tops ofnthe posts arflexible coverof rectangular conformation having loops .at the corners stretched overthe .end membersandthe ridge poles and held there by :the loops to form a sleeping enclosure.

.:3. A camping accessory comprising a cot, an end member made of a thin board material and formed in a semi circular shape, zbolts running outwardly from the transverse end members of the coat, aclamping bar and wi-ngnuts onthe outenthreaded .ends ofsaid bolts, :notches in the diametric edge of said end member, said end member being clamped between the transverse ,member. of said not andsa-id clamping bar by the action of .the nuts and-bolts and lying therebetweenzwith the boltsresiding in said notches.

A. Acamping accessory comprising a cot, end members of semi-circular :shape formed of stiff sheet material :andclamped at their diametrical portions in .a vertical position to the ends of the cot, 1831313 end member being provided .with a centrally-located window, a ridge pole joining the top portions .of the end members, a flexible -.-cover :n'f rectangular-configuration having loops at the corners stretched rover the iend'members and the ridge pole and -held'there by the loops to form a sleeping enclosure, bolts extending outwardly from the ends of the cot, notches in the diametric edges of the end members, a clamping means on the outer ends of the bolts, the said end members being clamped between the ends of the cot and the clamping means with the bolts residing in the said notches.

5. The combination of two camping cots in side-by-side relation and an accessorytherefor comprising end members of semi-circular shape formed of stiff sheet material and clamped at their diametrical portions in a vertical position to the ends of each of the cots, the two cots being held in juxtaposition by clamping means, vertical posts held between the ends of the cots by actuation of said clamping means, a ridge pole joining the tops of the posts, a flexible cover of rectangular conformation stretched over the end members and the ridge pole and held there to form a sleeping enclosure, bolts extending outwardly from the ends of the cots, notches in the diametrical portions of the end members, a clamping means on the outer ends of the bolts, the said end members being clamped between the ends of the cot and the last-named clamping means with the bolts residing in the said notches.

6. The combination of two camping cots in side-by-side relation and an accessory therefor comprising end members of semi-circular shape formed of stiff sheet material and clamped at their diametrical portions in a vertical position to the ends of each of the cots, each end mem ber being provided with a centrally-located window, a ridge pole joining the top portions of the end members on each cot, the two cots being held in juxtaposition by clamping means, vertical posts held between the ends of the cots by actuation of said clamping means, a ridge pole joining the tops of the posts, a flexible cover of rectangular conformation having loops at the corners stretched over the end members and the ridge poles and held there by the loops to form a sleeping enclosure, bolts extending outwardly from the ends of the cots, notches in the diametrical portions of the end members, a clamping means on the outer ends of the bolts, the said end members being clamped between the ends of the cot and the last-named clamping means with the bolts residing in the said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,374,386 Purcell Apr. 12, 1921 1,454,395 McDonald May 8, 1923 1,906,828 Wilson May 2, 1933 2,508,254 Ham May 16, 1950 

